MAILBAG Marty Burns will periodically answer questions from SI.com users in his mailbag. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

Three things this year's serious NBA courtside heckler doesn't leave home without: his rubber chicken, his bag of Ricolas and his 2003-04 NBA Officials Media Guide.

Yes, that's right.

There's now a press guide for referees.

Produced by the NBA and distributed to the media that regularly covers the league (sorry, Christmas shoppers, it's not available to the public), the book has 188 pages of information about the development and training of refs, commonly misunderstood rules and the history of rules changes. It also contains personal bios of the 58 men and one woman who make up the league's officiating staff.

I got mine in the mail the other day and, to paraphrase Groucho Marx, "I've been laughing ever since. ... Someday I hope to read it."

All kidding aside, the book is a useful resource tool for those of us who still can't figure out the defensive three-seconds rule. It also provides a rather interesting human dimension to the refs. A little splash of color on the zebra, if you will.

For example, did you know that Bob Delaney once worked as an undercover agent investigating the mob for the New Jersey State Police? That Joey Crawford is the brother of MLB umpire Jerry Crawford? That Dick Bavetta used to be a Wall Street broker?

Or that Leon Wood and Bernie Fryer played in the NBA? That Luis Grillo was drafted by the ABA's Virginia Squires? That Steve Javie is the son of former longtime NFL official Stan Javie?

"We're in a business where opinions about us tend to be negative," says veteran ref Dan Crawford. "It's kind of nice for people to see a [human] side."

As Crawford is quick to point out, however, that's hardly the purpose of the book. Instead, he says, it's to educate media and fans about the process refs go through to get to the NBA level. And the inordinate amount of review and evaluation they undergo once they get there.

As much as some fans might not want to admit it, NBA refs represent the cream of the crop. Most spend years working at the high school and college levels before even showing up on David Stern's radar. Then they must attend development camps, work NBDL and WNBA games and ultimately beat out hundreds of other candidates for what may be two or three openings each season.

Average age: 44 Average experience: 12 years Youngest official: Courtney Kirkland, 29 Oldest official: Jack Nies, 65 Most regular-season games: Dick Bavetta, (1,956) Most playoff games: Joe Crawford (201) Most Finals games: Joe Crawford (32) Most seasons: Dick Bavetta (29), Joe Crawford (28), Bernie Fryer (28), Jess Kersey (28), Blaine Reichelt (26), Jack Nies (25).

Once in the NBA, they don't just become glorified Foot Locker salesmen. During the season, they meet with observers after every game to review calls and analyze issues that came up during play. They file written reports to the league office. They use laptops to break down film and go over specific points.

"Every call is charted, and every call is graded," Crawford said. "We spend hours each day going over videotape."

NBA refs must stay in shape physically. They must eat right. They must be willing to spend long hours away from family and loved ones and work holidays.

Judging from the Officials Guide, it's not as if many would otherwise be panhandling, either. Bennie Adams taught math at Southern University. James Capers worked in corporate sales for Xerox. Marc Davis played basketball at the Naval Academy. Bennett Salvatore owns a popular steak-and-seafood restaurant in Stamford, Conn.

"These are highly competent, highly educated people who work very hard at their job," said NBA spokesman Tim Frank. "They're not machines. They're people. They work diligently at their craft. ... It's important for people to understand that."

The Officials Guide is one way the NBA is getting out the word. And if, in the process, it provides ammo to a few leather lungs seated courtside, so be it.

Can you imagine their reaction, for example, when they find out that Bavetta likes to collect do-wop records? That Gary Benson is a licensed funeral director? That Ted Bernhardt plays the trombone?

Somewhere, Robin Ficker is plotting a comeback.

Marty Burns covers pro basketball for SI.com.